“I’m not trying to prove anything. People look at me, and they take things away from me because of a movie. They don’t really see the skills and the kind of player I am. That’s why I get downgraded so much, because of something off the field.” ~ Michael Oher
Michael Oher, you’ve got to be kidding me!
Let’s hold that thought for a moment.
When Ben Grubbs left the Ravens following the 2011 season, I opined that the team should consider moving Michael Oher to guard and take over for the departed Grubbs. A member of the Ravens front office kicked the suggestion to the curb.
“We think Michael is one of the best left tackles in the game. Not sure why you would suggest that.”
I made the suggestion because after a very good rookie season during which Oher was the 15th ranked tackle in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus, his ranking began a slide that has yet to stop. In 2010 his overall grade fell to (-11.3) from +20.0 in 2009 and slipped again to (-11.6) during the 2011 campaign.
Given that his size and therefore his reach was commensurate with a guard (Grubbs, 6’3” 310 pounds v. Oher, 6’4” 315 pounds) I rationalized that perhaps the Ravens could better harness Oher’s athleticism at guard next to the heady Matt Birk, and minimize his apparent weaknesses on the edge.
That said, the point here isn’t to say, “I told you so.” After all, we’ll never know if Oher would have been any better a guard.
What we do know is that Oher blaming the movie The Blind Side, based upon his life, is hardly the culprit in the former Raven’s downward spiraling career.
Penalties: First number is total called; second total declined or offset
The movie was released during Oher’s rookie season – by far his best. By the time the 2010 campaign rolled around does anyone really think that the focus on Oher was driven by an easily forgotten 10-month old movie?
Maybe Michael, it was those 13 penalties in 2010 that captured everyone’s attention…just sayin’!
The sooner you get real and stop whining and redirecting blame, the sooner you might stop your career from hemorrhaging.
Hey, maybe Leigh Anne Tuohy will join the Carolina Panthers coaching staff and turn things around!
[youtube]https://youtu.be/uuYlHxijIho[/youtube]
